🇹🇷 🇬🇷 The Great Population Exchange between Turkey and Greece | Al Jazeera World

As part of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, Greece and Turkey agreed to uproot two million people in a massive population exchange, the lasting effects of which are still felt by some in both countries today. Only since the 1990s has it been possible for the 'exchangees' caught up in the upheaval and their families to visit what they see as their ancestral villages in Greece and Turkey.
Huseyin Selvi was forced out of Greece when he was five, but at the age of 97 he was able to travel in a group from Turkey to the village where he was born. The exchangees had to travel on foot, by train and by sea and many of the ships involved in this mammoth operation were full to overflowing. The elderly and the young especially suffered from the shocking travel conditions.
"My mother had to throw my younger sister, who was three or four, into the sea. I don't remember it but that's what my mother told me", says Huseyin.
Numan Toker, a second generation exchangee, also travelled to the village in Greece his late mother was forced out of. "It was my mother's last wish. Now I'll bring water from there, to her grave. I'll bring soil...She was longing to see it [village] again but never had the chance. I asked her if I could take her. She replied, "Yes son, please. Would you really take me there?" Of course, I said I would but it wasn't meant to be. We couldn't make it in the end," says a tearful Numan.
His ancestors had lived in Greece for 400-500 years, until the population exchange. Recalling his mother's stories, Numan says "She cried, laughed and talked about what they used to do. The day they were called back to Turkey and were leaving, they left 500 sheep and their farmland behind. She even left dinner cooking on the stove. They left everything behind."
Population shifts occurred in the early twentieth century as old empires disintegrated and new nation states emerged. But these changes often raised complex questions of identity for the ordinary people caught up in them.
Greek Orthodox Christians and Muslims had lived together under Ottoman rule for centuries, though not always entirely peacefully. The Greek war of independence from the Ottomans was fought between 1821 and 1832 and the new state of Greece founded. This created tension which increased after the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913. Muslims remaining in Greece and the Balkans suffered discrimination and persecution, while Greek Orthodox Christians were expelled by the Ottomans from the Aegean region.
After the Ottoman defeat in World War One, the victorious allies maneuvered to divide up their former empire. This was resisted by the Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kamal Attaturk who fought the Turkish War of Independence between 1919 and 1923.
At Lausanne in Switzerland, all the parties sat round the conference table in 1922-23. Part of the resulting Treaty of Lausanne involved an agreement between Greece and Turkey to forcibly exchange around 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians and a lower number of Muslims in the largest population displacement of modern times.
When the exchangees arrived at their destinations, they often faced serious problems integrating into their new communities - and some of their social, housing and education problems have persisted.
Language was an immediate problem and exchangees like Nuriye Can who left Greece in 1923 for Turkey were all Greek-speakers. It was hard for the first generation to learn Turkish after having grown up with Greek as their native language.
"I couldn't speak any Turkish when I got married", says Nuriye. "My mother-in-law used to ask me why I spoke the language of an 'non-believer'. She asked, "Why don't you speak your father's language?" I did eventually learn Turkish."
There are now reciprocal visits by both Greek and Turks, as part of a cultural project supported by the European Union and the Foundation of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants.
"I thought it was a debt of honour, a moral obligation to come and kiss the ground where my grandfathers were born," says Evangelia Kiortci who found her grandparents' village. "They didn't make it, nor did my parents but I'm a third generation refugee, and I've come...They left for Greece and they've always had this sorrow. They had never had the chance to come back and walk on the same ground. I'm deeply moved."
For Dimitris Dayioglu, a visit to the Turkish village his grandmother was expelled from, was an equally emotional experience. "My grandmother wanted very much to g
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[@zhaw4821]

I am in tears. I am an old Greek woman living in California. My father was born in Armoutli, (Yalova) Prussa. Came to Greece in 1922. He was 7 years old. My mother was born in Magnesia ( Manissa) ,she was newborn when she came to Greece. I grew up listening to their stories lamenting, longing for " home"

[@atillaturk2130]

There are millions of TÜRKs which came to Türkiye from Greece after the TÜRK-GREK WAR..............They are in tears , too...............Their parents were born in Greece , and, they have many memories left in Greece......................Greks killed hundred thousands of Türks.............İt is a BARBARİC SHAME for you...................................

[@atillaseckinbabacan1937]

I am also in tears. I am also a young man living and studying in Istanbul. My ancestors were born in Grevena (Grabena in Turkish) they are probably Vallahades. I was born in Manissa as your mother :) We all are missing HOME.

[@zhaw4821]

@@atillaseckinbabacan1937 I understand. Be healthy and happy my child. 🇬🇷♥️🇹🇷🙂

[@emilstanciu6592]

@@atillaseckinbabacan1937 ce înseamnă valahades ?în același oraș locuiau și mulți vlahi,vorbitori de aromână.

[@georgios_5342]

Very nice documentary. My family came from Smyrna to Greece just three days before the city was destroyed by the Turkish army, they were saved by their Turkish friends who gifted them a boat. Many years later the daughter of the family visited my family in Greece, brought them gifts, and said they all still remembered the stories of how they lived together. Her father, who gifted them the boat, had died by then. It goes to show that even when the two countries are in conflict, the common people don't have anything against eachother. Peace 🇬🇷🤝🇹🇷

[@blgram]

I am curious whether your family ever told you about what crimes they committed. For example, but my grandfather's uncle was killed at the age of 13, guess by who ? Guess who killed many people in my city? Greeks? They left the city, guess why? Because they lost the war, and they did knew they did horrible things and of course Turkish people will have things to do now. And now, their grandkids act like their "pooooor" ancestors were forced to leave Anatolia. Of course I won't generalize but at least in my city Greeks were horrible people. They killed a lot of people, they raped poor people.

[@user-fk3di8lf3f]

Greece was winning before Lenin gave 11 million rouvles to Kemal and literally opened the door of Smyrna for him

[@mremw7187]

city was not destroyed by turkish. the fire started from the armenian quarters, burning the whole old town. People knew that they were not coming back to their old life so they probably burned it to the ground. Just like some armenians did after nagarno-karabag conflict. The cause of the fire is still unknown and controversial. stop spreading misinformation.

[@mremw7187]

also sorry for your loss and pain...

[@user-nz5wf3qm5y]

​@@mremw7187Yeah Turks Are Innocent Angels In History Armenians Are The Bad Ones

[@Mercy_Chanter]

Beautiful documentary, brought tears to my eyes for both Greeks and Turks alike. My mother's parents came to Greece from Constantinople, Asia Minor, my grandfather was from Kerasounta, I think it is now called Giresun in Turkish. I have nothing against the Turkish people, I have Turkish friends that we call each other brothers and sisters. I never heard my grandfather talk badly about the Turkish people. He use to tell me that they got along great, and that they played Tavli/Backgammon together. I believe that some government people and rulers are the cause for the hate between us. We the people, on both sides, would get along together and live peacefully if it wasn't for some rulers that try to divide us through their war games of power, greed, and land territories disputes. I wish the people on both sides should not allow themselves to be brainwashed by them.

[@paulkenneally789]

@turk of turks you can have your opinions,but your attitude will not always be welcome in England. I enjoyed my visit to Turkey and will return,hoping not to meet you.

[@paulkenneally789]

This was a fantastic documentary. I heard about the exchange back in 1988,there was only one out of print book in English. Sad that all those people didn’t get to return.Glad that progress is being met around reconciliation. Let’s not forget,there’s a film Mediterraneneo,and the lines “same face,same race “,it’s appropriate. When you look how the refugees look,who was who? I’m gonna organise a tavli contest and beat both sides,soundly!!! Respect (with tears in my eyes).

[@wiisdomseeker]

Exactly. Looks like power greed is making the governments full of hate. If you just leave people by themselves we are the same. Governments, education systems make people intolerant. I know, because I was one good example.

[@mt6240]

Beautiful words sister. All our governments are corrupted unfortunately. God help us to change everyone's mind to the right path of simple humanity.

[@mt6240]

@@wiisdomseeker wow I'm so happy for you brother to admit that you are growing and changing your mind with positivity and peace. I wish everyone becomes more open minded like you.

[@lysanders8885]

One out of four Greeks today is a descendant of a refugee, as there were far more Greeks moving from Anatolia to Greece than the other way around. To add another dimension to the tragedy, the Greek communities of the Asia Minor coast were there for at least 3 thousand years... My family is from Smyrna, like Homer, and I ll never ever forget it, not me nor my children

[@serdaroden3511]

My great grandfather's mother died in the ship which moved ftom Tselloniki when she was giving birth to him. Some family adopted him and raised him. This documentary is so emotional.

[@serdaroden3511]

@@geospatial-KML so? They "were" Greek cities. What would happen if Hittites come and say Turkey is our land? 🤣🤣 You are so dumb.

[@Pilgrim06]

A very touching report Al Jazeera. Humanity is one, one heart, one smile. Anything different from that, is not human....

[@masg9389]

So impressive how third- or even four-generation-refugees from both sides are talking so emotionally about places, in which they have never been, but have heard about them by their grandparents! It's amazing people that never lived in those places want to visit those lands so passionately.

[@antondavidoff150]

Learn about macedonian slavs in Northern Greece.. there is 3rd side in this story that suffered the most not mentioned in this documentary

[@kazmuz8678]

We are not refugee.Just citizen who stayed outside of country because wars.

[@metallicroostersailor8105]

I am Turkish living in Izmir and my ancestors immigrated from Crete, Greece in the 1900s.

[@Dionysios_Skoularikis]

Εάν τα πράγματα είναι έτσι, τότε φίλε μου, δεν είσαι Τούρκος...

[@perseusarkouda]

@@Dionysios_Skoularikis Μουσουλμάνος είναι και άρα Τούρκος. Παλιά δεν υπήρχαν οι έννοιες των Εθνών όπως σήμερα και μόνο η θρησκεία μας ξεχώριζε. Η άποψη που υποστηρίζεις θα σήμαινε πως και οι Πόντιοι δεν είναι Έλληνες.

[@basicinfo8786]

​@@perseusarkouda Έλληνας μουσουλμάνος τι Τούρκος 😂

[@mehmetcan6624]

I have many friends in Turkey whose grandparents were sent from Greece to Turkey.Really heartbreaking stories.

[@mlk3327]

@Jimmy Giannioudis nope, because they didn’t come from ‘Mongolia’ lol

[@tonymontana3259]

what is wrong with Mongolian people dude....????

[@alifrubiyath9037]

@Jimmy Giannioudis Truth must hurt that you need to resort to personal insults. The first king of Greece today was Otto, an Austrian, the 2nd King was George, a Dutch. Current Greece has no ties with Ancient Greece. Even DNA test has proven Greeks today have substantial Ethiopian ancestry.

[@alifrubiyath9037]

I am not a Turk.

[@blackadder6897]

@Jimmy Giannioudis Ξύπνα ρε, Αλβανός είναι. Τα σχόλια τους είναι copy paste.

[@faikanilsezer611]

My grandmother and grandfather were from Ptoleimaida (Kayilar Koyu). I am also in tears while watching it, all the years listened about Greece and our village. This documentary is so special the people who came from Greece. I would like to see our village even though my grandparents were never had a chance to see there once again. Best greating from the UK.

[@georgekouspidis9936]

Kailar the city I was raised as child Turks conquered all Greek lands and made a country in the occupied lands, but some day we will take all back

[@faikanilsezer611]

​@@georgekouspidis9936 I think it is a very offended comment. I could have said that we will take your land from you, Athens, Thessaloniki and etc. How do you feel about it? I wish all Greek brothers to live a prosperous life there happily and healthy in their land. And we should never fight anything again. We love you whatever it takes.

[@dimvol8605]

@@faikanilsezer611 why it is a offend comment. this is the true. the ottmans came put Greece 400 years under missery , make lot of massacer on Greek population. and still now your goverment questioned greek bordes despite this issue is been setttled with the treaty of Laussane and Paris.

[@tonymontana3259]

My grandparents were from Vourla. I think is a place near Izmir . they came as refugees in central Greece when the war started. I want to come one day there and see the place where my grandparents lived..!! big love and respect from Greece!!

[@tonymontana3259]

@Mehmet thank you for your information and your good words dude !! big respect and love from Greece!!

[@0nur0zturk]

@@tonymontana3259 I believe that place probably called Urla in Turkish, and yes it is located in İzmir province, 30-45 minutes away from city of İzmir :). Very nice town with lots of vineyards :)

[@LondonPower]

@@tonymontana3259 respect λεει ο μαλακας στους φονιαδες και κατακτητες της μικρας ασιας

[@mertozbek680]

we call it Urla in Turkish it is a vacation place in İzmir

[@tahsinalp1417]

If you want to come to your hometown one day, old Greek houses will welcome you. Love from Vourla :)

[@nikos8247]

Τhe most, painful agreement in world history... Almost 100 years passed and the pain is still there... Even now that almost all exchanged are dead, their children remember their stories and their pain...

[@user-nv3vl1io1r]

i am 4th generation. My grandmother from my mother's side was from Smyrna( Izmir today) and my grandfather, also from my mother's side, was born in Sivrisari. I don't know exactly how its called today. I think Seferihisar. My father's parents were born in Aivali/ Ayivalik & Constantinople/ Istanbul respectivelly. I have never been to Turkey nor has anyone from my grandfathers apart my father's father. Some relatives visited Izmir though and said the family's house still exists.We still have in the house some documents in old ottomam language. They couldn't translate it preciselly, but they told us they are property titles. We keep them as family's heirlooms. I would like once in my life to visit my grandparents towns.

[@pasindukanishka7504]

today turkish land was belong to greek not to turks

[@mertozbek680]

my grandfather was from Salonika and grandmother from Western Thrace. i would like to see where my grandparents lived one day

[@arolemaprarath6615]

@@mertozbek680 turks are greeks

[@williamyoung1781]

Hi, I am doing a project about the exchange and I would love to know more about these documents if you'd be willing to talk?

[@user-nv3vl1io1r]

@@williamyoung1781 Ηi, sure but i am not sure that i can i help you. As i wrote, i don't know much about the documents apart the fact they are property titles. I wanted to find an expert for the Ottoman language, to learn more, but i kind of neglected it.

[@TheOne-fe8wk]

To my amazing Greeks and amazing Turks. Our people have hated eachother for too long and have caused much pain. The extreme Greeks and the extreme Turks have caused pain for the Greeks and Turks in the middle. The normal everyday people suffered because of nationalism. NO MORE! Let’s build bridges please. One love

[@Mercy_Chanter]

I agree 100% Much love and respect for standing up and speaking your mind. We need more people like you. 💖🌹🌺🌷💖

[@drgeorgek]

agree. Lets be friends and get over the past. Sick of the hate. We are humans first and foremost... stuff nationalism. Be proud of your country and heritage but not at the expense of others. Human life is more important than any ideology.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

love love love, do you not realize the signifigance of locations like constantinople to the greeks capital of the byzantines for thousands of years then taken by the ottomans like half justified to retake it its like if britain somehow took Paris from france France can go mad at britain clearly

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

Unfortunately the persistent occupation of Cyprus and siresoect of sovereign Greek islands and rights makes this difficult. The politicians hold the power which is bad reality for Greco Turk relations

[@weplo1597]

@@Cecilia-ky3uw I feel like Istanbul has been shared by greek and turks so long it doesn't matter tbh. One thing i agree is that Hagia sophia should've remained as a museum

[@Sira628]

both know greek and turkish!!!!! they remember after a century!!!!

[@kostas68]

Οι περισσότεροι από τους Τούρκους αυτούς είναι στην πραγματικότητα απόγονοι εξισλαμισμένων Ελλήνων από χωριά της Μακεδονίας (περιοχή Γρεβενών και Κοζάνης) οι οποίοι μιλούσαν μόνο ελληνικά και δεν ήξεραν λέξη τουρκικά. Είναι οι λεγόμενοι "Βαλαάδες".

[@wiisdomseeker]

I'd say Greeks can speak much better Turkish, young or old. But even second generation Turks have no Greek language ability at all. The sign of oppressive Turkish Government for a century.

[@ammarhaziq919]

@@wiisdomseeker actually its normal for people of conqueror nation, for example UK, did british people ever learn or know how to speak hindi or bangladeshi or malay ? but today most people in India and Malaysia can speak english, but does it mean british oppressing them and trying to eliminate their language ?

[@wat4089]

@@ammarhaziq919 Your analogy is totally wrong. Indians still speak their birth languages and English is their second language just like the rest of the world. The Greeks that were Turkified in Anatolia (Turkey) no longer speak their birth language which was Greek. The ancestors of the "Turks" in this video were actually Greek before they became Turkified.

[@Rolando_Cueva]

@@ammarhaziq919 It’s called Bengali tho

[@chigat]

One day i’ll visit the village in Kilkis, Greece where my grandparents came from.

[@hungariandictator9673]

@turk of turks neden küfür ettin

[@dildobaggins6937]

they didnt come from there, thats like a white american saying i want to go to texas to see where i am from. White americasn are from england. Turks are from central asia - mongolian region. Turks are not from the aegean.

[@blackbeard6423]

A huge tragedy - my grandfather was born in Constantinople and was deported from there with his family in the 1950s - they were Greeks (Rum). Some of the last "Romans". A little later than this catastrophe, but still part of the same sad process.

[@davidrichards8793]

My Grandmother lived there until she was 12, she still talks fondly of her life back then.

[@theonlymixman]

My roots come from Argiroupoli (Gumuşhane), Trebizond and a village near Kars named çepik. I wish I could visit these places. My grand grandfather and grandmother were from there. They left them and fled to Russia

[@yusufbiyikli06]

If you want to visit Trabzon I can provide your stay. Come and see your village.

[@theonlymixman]

@@eren9001 Well maybe because they didn't use to be pure Turks? Maybe because my ancestors were Greeks? Maybe because most of these places were founded by Greeks and have Greek name? Isn't it clear enough for you?

[@yirmialt2960]

Where from Gümüşhane

[@theonlymixman]

@@yusufbiyikli06 thank you man :)

[@theonlymixman]

@@yirmialt2960 As far as I know, from the city itself.

[@GK2023BBQ]

What’s crazy is my grandparents are from brostan and my great grandparents are from micra Asia. I had chills seeing this.

[@mertozbek680]

same my grandmother is from western thrace and my grandfather is from salonika. we currently live in izmir

[@williamyoung1781]

Do either of you still have any possessions that your (great) grandparents brought with them?

[@ogulcanozcan1147]

Heartbreaking point of history for Turks and Greeks.

[@francisharris4275]

Huyesin 97 years old what a legend.....

[@murataruta542]

It's so sad that people are still able to comment hate speech here. Some are saying greeks and us are not brothers. To that i say you are right, we lived together for 400 years we are more than brothers, we are them and they are us. We share the same cuisine, culture, Aegean see, mannerisms and much more. World already has enough hate in it, we don't need more of it.

[@EibeMandel]

Those radical nationalists on both sides should all take a DNA test, I'm Turkish and according to my test I'm 30% Greek. You can't hate a people when you know that you share the same blood as them.

[@wuestenfuchs1]

That was beautiful, man

[@kori4580]

Majority of Greeks think they're 100% Greek and that they directly descend from the ancient Greeks. But here is a fun fact, any Greek that has TZ or TS in their last name are Turkish in origin because those sounds are Turkish and not Greek.

[@sundayguy7254]

That isn't true. Names do not necessarily designate origins-- a lot are simply labels (occupation, defining characteristic of an ancestor, geographical description etc.)

[@kori4580]

Sunday Guy they do indeed especially when they are not Greek sounds but Turkish. For example tzatziki is a Turkish word and so is the common name for shoes, papoutsia.

[@leftchalldn8718]

Greece Turkey 🇬🇷🇹🇷

[@andreav318]

This is so emotional 😭

[@naumanistani]

So sad I want Greek and Turks to be friends

[@blackadder6897]

Nobody cares what you want spoiled brat.

[@Mercy_Chanter]

@Almila ÖZTÜRK Not true! We can be friends. We, the people, have the power to change history if we refuse to be brainwashed by those who try to control and divide us. We the people, on both sides, are the ones that suffer when our leaders start wars between us that do not benefit us, but only benefit their pockets. When the people wake up and realize that our leaders are the cause of our problems and stand up and speak up against their atrocities, then and only then we can change history.

[@naumanistani]

Almila ÖZTÜRK focus on present, history is a lesson

[@kostas5579]

Oil and water

[@Mercy_Chanter]

@ORTHODOXY OR DEATH - Yes I am Greek and also U.S.A. citizen

[@nickburton100]

I watched this documentary at the end of February 2018: I was so surprised by the reaction of the two groups of people. It was very different to what they expected, particularly from the Greek perspective of modern day Turkey.

[@val882]

nickburton100 what do you mean?

[@nickburton100]

The media has created an image that Turkey is a dreadful country: it is not. I do not like what their President is doing to the country at the moment, but that is out of my hands. The UK is nothing wonderful.

[@christosnikoulis59]

@@nickburton100, shut your mouth. You have no clue what you’re talking about.

[@weplo1597]

Most of Turks don't support what our president is doing. We want to continue the path of Ataturk but unfortunately some of our people got brainwashed into hating him as well.

[@pirategamers4082]

Guys stop hating each other.

[@emrekucuk4005]

@@Aimos-apo-tin-Tauris Ok you are such a civilized world I do not know who are they but well done. I beg your pardon did you paid your crimes against the Humanity all around the world.?Europe for Africa, America, Indıa.?Do not hide your trash media power to hide that crimes one they you will pay.

[@Kaan_is_myname97]

@@montanadassios1093 you still beleive we killed innocent civilians and hate us for it. Thats bullshit and keep doing that i dont care.

[@efthymiosanagnostos7427]

Nevermind My name you did lmao

[@fattypopulista8189]

@Gasko Gaskovich Mongolia is your home.

[@mlk3327]

@Pirate Gamers As a Turkish, I don’t hate anyone because I don’t know any person from the opposite shore I would say I lean more towards neutrality than hate.

[@leukocyte9260]

repect each other and love each other..From S.korea :D

[@tonymontana3259]

y0 dude what about N. Korea?? what is happening there

[@giwrgospapadatos1173]

@@tonymontana3259 extreme dictatorship most of n. Koreans are brainwashed to the limits and have no clue about the outside world, they have told lies by their government for the outside life and are forced to worship their leader as a God, few have escaped and told the stories, the situation is so fcking extreme that makes me sad about the n. Koreans

[@Marco-jm1mo]

@kombat stfu

[@NIKOLASINGLESSIS]

My family used to live in Smyrna/Izmir and I was fortunate enough in 74 to visit Smyrna and we find the home that they were living but unfortunately only the facade was standing ! They had a cigartte factory and 2 ferries doing the Tsesme line They left before the exchange and went to Samos which is our place of origin !!!

[@mohamedabotan9983]

This is injustice. Forcibly relocating entire families because of their faith or ethnic background is totally wrong. Doesn't matter whether it happened yesterday or 95 years ago, wrong means wrong.

[@whatever-ev6xz]

Moe Mugisha stuff like that still happens today like with the rohingas in myanmar

[@georgios_5342]

When the population exchange was agreed, most of the Greeks from Anatolia had already been killed, expelled or evacuated. More than a million Greeks had already reached Greece, there was no way to provide housing for them and back in Turkey half the country was empty from population. So the official population exchange was seen as mutually beneficial at that point. Greece wanted to get rid of its Muslim minority in as non-violent a way as possible, and at the same time could provide shelter for the refugees. And Turkey wanted to get rid of the rest of the Greeks, especially those in Southern Anatolia and European Turkey, and at the same time gain a population boost, which could help it repopulate the abandoned cities and villages.

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

Agreed but it did help prevent the complete extermination of Greeks by the Turkish nation

[@user-do1dc3qf3c]

@@thebalkanhistorian.3205 And vice versa. After WW1 and the Turkish War of Independence, there was so much hate between the two nations.

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

@@user-do1dc3qf3c Not true, the Greek army liberated parts of Asia Minor and massacres of Turks were extremely minimal. Unfortunately they did occur but Greeks were court martialed for misconduct and evil notably by Smyrna governor Aristides Stergiadis, known for being pro Turkish

[@constatinexipalaeologus507]

My papou's family was from Turkish Thrace and resettled on the Greek- Turkish border to create the village of Nea Orestiada. Our papou was in the USA at the time of the exchange and Yia Yia from Corinth as well.

[@user-xe1ol7xh4i]

Annnnd nobody cares 😂

[@drys3136]

@@user-xe1ol7xh4i I do.

[@aca2883]

One of the most horrific acts against humanity: uprooting people!

[@avarussurava9488]

What a tragedy and the pain is still raw even a century after.

[@rollenbo15]

i am Turkish, i made a DNA Test and it came out i was 60% greek and 32% turkish and some other minoritys, with blue eyes and my Unlce is Blond

[@nab.7250]

Safak Greeks aren’t blonde

[@nab.7250]

Headohones Love that doesn’t mean they’re European, many Arabs tend to have blonde hair too. But Greeks are mediterranean, therefore they are mostly dark haired .

[@berkayoguz7274]

kanka MyDnaHeritage den öğrendin değil mi DNA sonuçlarını?

[@charleskerry845]

@@nab.7250 My mother natural hair is dirty blond ,and she is Greek from the Island of lesbos up in a village up high .

[@semprefidelis76]

@Random Person so what is a good DNA test?

[@shelbyk2193]

Anyone else cry at the very end?

[@MrGEORG1964]

yasasun turk ve yunan halk dostluk !!biz kardesler !!

[@mehmetozturk6249]

Batı trkaya Türkleri bizim öz ve öz kardeşler onlar ne Yunan ne slavdir onlar Osmanlı'dan kalma Türkleridir

[@dariomoreno9267]

@@mehmetozturk6249 batı trakya türkleri bizim kalbimizdedir canımızdır bizdendir

[@benzcrazy]

Bravo You said it my friend

[@uguriskl9882]

👏

[@georgiossidiropoulos2618]

@@mehmetozturk6249 Pomaken sind natürlich keine Türken!Aber Hauptsache PROPAGANDA machen...

[@88arakvita]

Wow. It really made tears out of my eyes Like if i was connected. Hope relationship Normalize

[@polygamous1]

Dear Al Jazeera THANK YOU a very heart warming Beautiful n deep touching documentary that was hard for me to stop my tears at many times in this totally honest n NON Bias documentary, am Greek from Cyprus and at least in Cyprus we Greeks n Turks are so alike just wished we could always been friends with Turkish people, I never reared Turkish people as they never did me any harm at all on the contrary many Turkish people have helped me when I needed their help Ignorance makes people distrust n dislike each other we need more documentaries like this AL-Jazeera

[@ayavci4431]

🇹🇷🧿🇬🇷

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

Unfortunately if you lived in ‘74 and before you would be very afraid

[@alexkat8297]

Τhis is very important. All those warmongers on both sides of the Aegean should watch it and understand that war brings only pain and destruction.

[@polygamous1]

an amazing n beautiful documentary full of emotions sadness also love n respect many thanks for uploading

[@kaanerdem2822]

the common things the old people remember is the "tsinar" or "çinar" tree in Turkish, my grandmother told the same to my father

[@baits9301]

after the exchange , 1.3 million christian turks settled into greece . that means half of greeks today are half turks but would never admit to it .

[@ninadiamant8937]

Most do. How about Turkish people? Do they?

[@leoaugustocwb]

All humans are brothers and sisters.

[@blackadder6897]

Oh, shut up stupid hipster.

[@billaros1338]

9:58 We know your pain. Thousands of Greeks died in sea and land during the population exchange as well. Thousands more died in the Turkish concentration camps during the Neo Turk administration. Anyway I'm not writing this comment to blame anyone. It's been 100 years since then and no Turk has ever harmed me or anyone that I know. We don't share the sins of our ancestors but we have to remember them especially the innocent like that little boy who you are related to. If you are a Turk reading this comment I hope you live a long and peaceful life without ever witnessing the horrors of war. Young people getting slaughtered so the old can hold their offices and make more money.

[@salihyayla4310]

I agree with most of what you said, but "Turkish concentration camps"? For gods sake......

[@kikieleutheriadou1661]

@@salihyayla4310 he refers to amele taburu

[@randomlyfree7964]

may I also add armenian genocide

[@billaros1338]

@@salihyayla4310 You can google " amele taburu " and enlighten yourself.

[@drgeorgek]

let this thread not lose its message by ironically arguing... the message being to move on and in a spirit of brotherly love and as us Greeks would, filotimo. We will be neighbours for quite some time so best we LEARN form the past and use it to come together by AVOIDING these mistakes and being aware of the sensitivities of these horrible acts.

[@JJ-zg7ug]

Many albanians were affected by this as well. Love to both Greece and Turkey. 🇹🇷🇬🇷🇦🇱

[@meanother9809]

Of course, the separation was based on religion, not ethnicity. Muslim Albanians in Greece and Christian Albanians in Turkey were part of this too.

[@ismailtoprakci9593]

Did they send charm albanians to turkey too? I've heard they were expelled.

[@djalpuke6445]

@@ismailtoprakci9593 Yes Cham Albanians were expelled and majority of the Chams were killed by the greek army, pure genocide!!!

[@nikgeorgio]

@@ismailtoprakci9593 greek state tried to forcibly assimilate cham albanians as greeks by baptizing them orthodox between 1913-1940...most of them converted to orthodoxy and became "greeks" ...the ones who didnt convert were slaughtered by greek army in 1944 and the survivors were expelled to albania

[@ismailtoprakci9593]

@@nikgeorgio ok. When the ottomans occupied Mora in 1458. The ottoman sources tell us that, Thomas paleologos army were mostly albanians from Mora. Are there still albanians in Mora to day?

[@mardigbidanian7119]

Perhaps nationalism isnt such a good thing anywhere be it in Greece and Turkey or in the US or Germany or Japan .

[@wat4089]

Without it the Greeks would still live under an oppressive Empire.

[@oguzmergun]

@@wat4089 it was not

[@wat4089]

@@oguzmergun ok brainwashed nationalist imperialist

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

no it can be very useful, and secondly I do not believe its nationalism to be angry at someone who conquered the former capital city of your ancestors

[@LoveAndPeace2004]

@@oguzmergun It literally was, Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians and other Slavs payed much more taxes (jizya) rather than Muslim ones

[@ekaterini2957]

We are brothers an sisters first. This reminds us.

[@Chris-xb7gm]

Why? I can't see what makes me brother with a Muslim person from the middle east. I have been to turkey, and even though i really don't hate them i equally see no reason to consider them brothers, they are just random alien people

[@dariomoreno9267]

Yes adelfos 🇬🇷🇹🇷

[@grecogi1821]

@@dariomoreno9267 NO

[@dariomoreno9267]

@@grecogi1821 panagiotis why dont you do anything except surfing on youtube?

[@demosthenisionnou6406]

How did I forget the the Greeks of Pontus

[@dimitris1383]

My great grandparents were from Muğla and Aydin ✝️

[@poseidonokeanos9094]

I live in Muğla and My Maternal side is from Crete.

[@aylaay8409]

My great grandparents are from Selaniki. But my family call themselves as Turks.

[@canakaln8423]

Hi From Aydın. My grand-grand father were Efe and fought off the invading Greeks in the mountains. But I wish we woud be living all together instead of fighting each other. Unfortunately fight isnt over yet :/

[@williamyoung1781]

Do any of you still have memories of stories from you great grandparents? Or any family possessions?

[@istanbullet]

My grand father and mother were from Serez, now Greece. She passed away nearly four years ago. Well for her it was impossible to travel back to her home in Serez but verbally described me the house and district where they used to live. I am sure totally changed but there are some historical remains like mosque or bedesten i think still alive. According to her saying; there were Turks, Jews and Greeks living... Hopefully this year I would like to travel and find at least the address where my ancestors had lived for very long years till population exchange. I think it's indeed very hard time especially when we were both citizens of an imperial country, the very first sparks of nationalism caused communities and neighbours started to fight eachother. I remember she was telling me hardly travelled from Serez to Selanik, walked for days than by ferries or trains to Bursa. Their relocated village is near lake Iznik. As far as I remember the former residents of the village were either Greeks or Armenians. I hope at least our generation can get some lessons from our common history. If you are reading this comment from Serez, please contact be so that maybe you can help me identify and find my grandmothers house...

[@hongkongsmartboy]

Muslim Greek became Turks, while Orthodox Turks became Greek!

[@Reemalarawi]

there’s orthodox turks?

[@ethemyldrm7486]

@@Reemalarawi Karaman Turks, they are Orthodox Christians. If you want to search

[@Kaan_is_myname97]

Bizimkiler de gelmiş Yunanistandan. Benim memleketim Türkiyedir ve Türküm. Savaşta kaybetmişiz oraları napalım kalsa mıydık yunan boyunduruğu altında.

[@zhaw4821]

Better life in Greece

[@nickpapadopoulos1353]

This video and others like it really touch my heart. My Grandparents were refugees from Mersina [Mersin ] in Cilicia [ Kilikia] ... they must have gone through the same feelings too . Papouli[Papik/Yunukbaba/Grandpa]Nikos Nicholas John Papadopoulos Auckland , New Zealand.

[@pasindukanishka7504]

today turkish land was belong to greek not to turks

[@mertozbek680]

@@pasindukanishka7504 and greeks took it from anatolians. stop being butthurt

[@pasindukanishka7504]

@@mertozbek680 Then history is a lie?

[@mertozbek680]

@@pasindukanishka7504 no but stronger one takes the land simple as that.

[@pasindukanishka7504]

@@mertozbek680 do not justify turkish occupation in hellenic land anatolian similar to hellenistic people turkish similar to central asian and arabians understand the real truth

[@bandofbrothers1762]

My grand grandfather came from Selanik :(

[@comingafteryou5352]

onur meggmet And my father's family along with my uncle's family came from Imbros and Constantinople.

[@kadudeduder5103]

Thanasis Sideris see people both sides suffered. So why should we still fight over something that's almost one hundered years old.

[@comingafteryou5352]

kadir yildirim Because we suffered more and it's not a one hundred year old issue as many events happened recently 1955 episodes on Constantinople,1964 dehellenization of Imbros and Tenedos and 1974 illegal invasion of Cyprus.

[@kadudeduder5103]

Thanasis Sideris the istanbul progrom was a mistake. Some turkish nationalist planted a bomb in front of Ataturk's house and blamed it on the Greeks to stir up hatred. Then the Turks in Istanbul thinking the Greeks did it and attacked the Greeks there again a mistake which I am sorry for. The invasion of Cyprus wasn't illegal, Turkey had the right to do so as a protectorate power and it did because a Greek military junta got in power by overthrowing the old government, it started killing and oppressing Turks and it wanted to unite with Greece. But the occupation was illegal, I don't support my government on this one and I'm hundred percent in for a reunification of Cyprus. Don't know much about Bozcaada and Gokceada for me it seems like the Greeks just left after time.

[@kadudeduder5103]

Thanasis Sideris I wrote it again here

[@cmdreftilon9786]

Very emotional report. 3rd Generation exchangee here, my ancestors came from the around Trabson, Bursa and Fanar Istanbul. We have so much in common

[@ansarimohmd2254]

Same think happened 1947 here in Indian subcontinent. India Pakistan partition

[@anaana-ew4dz]

israel palestine

[@shrinilodedra3001]

But india and pakistan is on a much larger scale

[@thomasdalai5595]

And the brits who facilitated it, based it on greek turkish exchange...

[@panteleimonorfanos]

The fact is that Turkey has violated the Treaty of Lausanne in all directions. 1.) Progrom on the 6th - 7th September 1955 in Constantinople 2.) Illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus On July 20, 1974 3.) On 8 June 1995 the Turkish parliament officially declared that unilateral action by Greece would constitute a casus belli Turkey is a beautiful country but unfortunately it has been misguided for a long time And sometimes you have to destroy something completely to create something new.

[@Violet-lg1ch]

Istanbul Pogrom happened because of the greeks that were attacking and killing turkish cypriots.

[@kikwizzy]

@@Violet-lg1chthat was a false story

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

@@Violet-lg1ch Turks were also killing Greeks in Cyprus and stopping them from self determination. Pogrom happened because of Turkish conspiracies that kemals house was bombed by Greeks but Turkish agents actually did it

[@user-nz5wf3qm5y]

​@@thebalkanhistorian.3205Δειλη Ατιμη Και Υπουλη Φαρα Αν Το Δεις Ιστορικα Οι Τουρκοι Μια Ζωη Μας Επιτίθονται Εκμεταλευομμενοι Τα Τραγικα Λαθη Τις Ταραχες Και Το Χαος Που Επικρατει Στο Εσωτερικο Της Χωρας Μας. Με Απλα Λογια Στην Αναμπουμπούλα Ο Λύκος Χαίρεται Συνεπώς Δεν Είναι Τυχαίο Που Έχουν Τον Λύκο Ως Σύμβολο Τους.

[@askosefamerve]

​@@Violet-lg1chIt was started because Greeks bombed Ataturk's birth home, and no, the whole thing was fake.

[@scussat513]

Very moving.

[@jaimec2783]

I think the last part sums up everything: -How did you learn Turkish? (Turkish old man who grew up in Turkey) -My parents spoke Turkish. (Greek old man who grew up in Greece)

[@exupakias]

Turks and Greeks normally must have good cooperation and you know i feel very sad when i am listening that we have serious problems with military and some pigs politicians try to put "oil in the fire" .We have many commons things, we are too close!Many Greeks visit seaside of Turkey, eat nice delicious food, also i met many Turks nice polite guys who came in Greece for holidays, i am very very sorry if something bad happening beetwen us.Stay safe to all of you.

[@livewithapurpose5651]

Indian leader B R Ambedkar wanted this to be emulated in case of India Pakistan partition

[@savabout6487]

This is so sad. Nationalism won and the people lost. What sadness that the Greeks of Smryna, Pontus, Mamara, and Paphlagonia will never return to the land of their ancestors. Which had been in habited by greeks for millennia. Equally sad. Turks who only knew Macedonia, Crete and Thrace as their home, forced to leave their flocks and go to a land they knew not.

[@nareshjoshi123]

SUPERB DOCUMENTARY AWESOME SPELL BOUND O STRUCK TO HEARTLY SENTIMENTS OF PEOPLE

[@khagan5951]

This was necessary. We didn't want another Greek invasion into Anatolia. Much war and bloodshed was prevented.

[@dimitris9350]

Well we had other turkish invasions. In Cyprus and in Istanbul when you killed, raped and expelled the last Greeks of Constantinople

[@dimitris9350]

@Kohn Caan ah yes our own fault that you killed the Greeks of Constantinople and expelled the rest of them. Dirty hypocrites. The turks have not contributed to anything

[@elizabethsdesk]

The torn Cyprus is another heartrending brokenness of a nation...

[@Pajtim2023]

Do u know after greece took Cyprus In 1800 60 percent of island were muslim They killed half of polulation because refusing to go in orthodoxism and half was forced to go back because of fear They killed 200k albanjans in epirus and sent it in turkey Dont give us lectures here

[@milliyetci5672]

@@Pajtim2023 100% right......

[@GkTheodore]

@@Pajtim2023 >In 1800 60 percent of island were muslim > They killed half of polulation because refusing to go in orthodoxism and half was forced to go back because of fear WHAT!?!? In the 1800s Cuprus was under turkish control wasn't it? >They killed 200k albanjans in epirus and sent it in turkey WHEN? After the albanians wiped out the entire civilian population in peloponese? Or after having allied with the nazis to wage war against us? But even the albanians could not tolerate you and decided to kick you out! >Dont give us lectures here Actually you seem to need quite a lot of lecturing about history. We were just the first nation to rise and show the world that kicking you away is the only way for piece!

[@GkTheodore]

@@milliyetci5672 100% wrong! Even "modern" turkey has a DOCUMENTED bloodstained treatment of minorities! Wanna proofs? ANYTIME!

[@Pajtim2023]

@Unfriendly atheist but they didnt Only albanins and bosnians accepted islam We lose justise People dont like justice are abusive nature like some countries they cant get islam Befayse islam apply justice 100’percrnt

[@handevemahsuplar7152]

Ağlatti😢

[@tayfurtarkan1]

My ancestors are from Greece, Thessaloniki. In Turkey people from Istanbul are usually not from Istanbul. Every summer some of them would go to their home cities and spend time in there. I always envied them :)

[@oza801]

It is easy to be emotional now but hard to live and make decisions then.

[@serserrano1]

It is pretty clear that the spread of Islam disrupted many a civilization, people’s and communities in the Middle East and abroad. Brought to us via the Ottomans. Thank God for the Greeks

[@noobsaibot7006]

God Bless the Ottoman Empire

[@zera_61]

This ignorance...

[@mariajason3547]

May ALLAH give them strength .......

[@stavrospylarinou684]

What is the name of the song played in 27:19 ?

[@amacgutmeyenkanal833]

H

[@ogunkovan]

@andonis lol that was famous march for football teams you can hear always in the stadiums but i have never thought it is ottoman song right now i dont know the name but i am gonna search it.

[@yuni6935]

Pinarbasi burma burma...Have a nice day Γείτονας.

[@jamaluddin9972]

Thank you Al Jazeera for funding and creating such a heart breaking history of two great people. The Greek Govt. don't allow a single mosque in the Capital city, reflects perhaps they are more prejudiced. An observation by a third party in Texas, USA.

[@666hyperionhellas6]

We don't want mosques. You want mosques? Go and live in Muslim countries.

[@007lamiss]

Not so dissimilar from people wanting to take down confederate monuments. Different histories, but still monuments as reminders of a painful past of death, violence, and oppression of one culture to an other. Agia Sophia iconic mosque in Istanbul was built as a Greek Orthodox Church by Greeks. After so much history and paradigm shift and turmoil, let them have what they want in their own country and move forward in their own way as time goes on and populations change and develop. And cultures heal.

[@jamaluddin9972]

@@007lamiss Your comments (reply) reflect you are a highly sophisticated person. I highly appreciate your thoughts. Regards. Feb-01-2021

[@milliyetci5672]

@@666hyperionhellas6 No one ask you.... isn't greek a EU country? ... There are muslim minority in Greece who need mosque, not you..... If the muslim in Greece want a mosque then Greece Govt can't stop building place of worship according to EU law...... But greek don't obey EU law, they joined EU only to steal EU wealth and benefit.......

[@kostinann]

Helloooo!!!! There is a mosque in Athens.

[@greekswaglord-dathistoryla201]

42:37 WTF that's my grandfather's village they went! His parents (my great grandparents) settled there following the population exchange and i personally went there several times! We hold a celebration commemorating the church there every june 30th.

[@williamyoung1781]

Hi, I would love to know more about this celebration - Are there any groups or websites where I can find out more?

[@williamyoung1781]

@UCEtuv3hKjRpvX8szPYCEjLg Thanks :) So the celebration is more for Saint Anargiri than to commemorate the population exchange?

[@greekswaglord-dathistoryla201]

@@williamyoung1781 Yep, a commemoration for the village itself and the church which share the same name.

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

01:48 The grave on the right says the person buried there died in 27/01/1973 and I am unintentionally watching it in 27/01/2024, 51 years later. 💐

[@bernie5951]

The difference is Turkish in Greece was occupiers and Greeks was native in Turkey

[@mnp6398]

Very one sided but I understand. Key is where did it start...who wanted a Turkish only state. The great leader Ataturk...the father of the turkish state...born in Thesaloniki

[@mirandapillsbury7885]

Greeks and Turks look the same, share a common history (both good and bad) and have similar traditions and customs. Sad things ended the way they did but that is history for you. All countries have dark pasts.

[@blackadder6897]

Turks learn at school that the greek islands are under greek occupation! So, what the f@ck are you talking about?

[@mirandapillsbury7885]

@@blackadder6897 I think you replied to the wrong message?

[@blackadder6897]

No I didn't.

[@blackadder6897]

The turks are still our enemies, get it?

[@mirandapillsbury7885]

@@blackadder6897 ok? nowhere in my message did I say you guys don't still have issues?

[@mlk3327]

Don’t scroll down and don’t read the comments below, your iq level would immediately drop to 0 LOL

[@blackadder6897]

Yours is probably below zero.

[@eaglezonly]

So supposedly my grandma is 100% Greek but her parents moved to Turkey and changed their last names to something Turkish sounding. Then they moved to Egypt where my grandma and all my family still live.

[@barisozkaya2710]

why moved to Turkey if they are Greek?

[@eaglezonly]

baris ozkaya did you watch the video?

[@barisozkaya2710]

@@eaglezonly were they Muslim Greeks? or give me timecode?

[@billba]

Was she Cretan?

[@elgee6202]

Why were these parents killing their children by throwing them into the sea? I don't get it.

[@user-cs7po3kt3u]

My grand grandparents from both sides, mother and father, came from trabzon and ordu in turkey, in greece thessaloniki with the population exchange. I only took a glimpse in the comments session and I saw hatred.. I'm not sure if I want to watch the video anymore...

[@coolfrog3181]

We are brothers and sisters.Let past behind.

[@coolfrog3181]

@@giorikas1982 İf Erdoğan sees this comment we can celebrate in jail.

[@giorikas1982]

@@semprefidelis76 Ειμαστε αυτοι που σωθηκαν απο τους 353 000 που δολοφονησαν αυτοι και γω πρεπει να ειμαι φιλος με αυτους? Ποσα κιλα μαλακας νιωθεις τωρα πες μου

[@semprefidelis76]

@@giorikas1982 Why are you writing in Greek to me? I am Turkish. Anyway I translated what you wrote. Again, you don`t have to be friends with us. If I was in your shoes, maybe I would feel the same hatred. But again, you die sooner if you always keep hating. When I was in Greece, I met so many friendly people. I believe both sides have politicians, military and overly religious people to blame. Otherwise we are very similar. For example, I feel more similar with Greeks than I am with our religious Erdogan-supporting people. One day, I want our military gunboats to face each other, and throw each other ....flowers! Do you understand? I can not change what my ancestors did to you. But today, I can offer a handshake for you.

[@blackadder6897]

Poor snowflake, do you need a safe space to crawl in?

[@duhhhh1723]

A very beautiful documentary, I cried very much . I had never heard of the Great Population Exchange . I became interested in migration because of todays current and disturbing rise of diasporia .My research led Me to this video .Thank You AJ for posting this .It seems the past is repeating in many areas of the world .This video is very powerful and educational .

[@shrinilodedra3001]

Diaspora politics is going to increase with globalization.

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

How sad it was to watch this. 😭😭😭😭😭💔

[@ninagriffiths5871]

Very emotional story as my maternal great grandparents were from Giresun and Trabzon. I am 3rd generation exchangee and very happy that my DNA test indicates my link to their homeland.

[@geranb.4400]

Do Turks think that the Cypriots are kinda weird (Turkish/Greek)

[@whitenights4524]

Yeah definitely

[@coolfrog3181]

Yeah lol

[@enginnope6841]

Yeah Kinda

[@chrisgr8509]

Lol!

[@cavemancyproductions]

We Cypriots are Hellenized Anatolians. Anatolians that inhabit the island since 10.000 BC.... the island was Hellenised roughly around 2000 to 1500BC. Turks are Turkified Anatolians.... we're both Anatolians, this is why we look alike.

[@starman1144]

It was 1.5 million Greek and 500.000 Turks. When you said 2 million it sounded like it was 2 mil Greek and 2 mil Turks

[@lana-yi5hd]

This is so sad 😭

[@aabb-jy1cc]

Tamam bende tesekyadan geldim. 1 milyon Türk biz n

[@alexax6562]

Well... I’m greek AND Turkish

[@val882]

And whats your opinion about Greece and Turkey ?

[@marcelkilluq9399]

@@val882 I am Turk and I love Greece. Peace! 🇹🇷❤🇬🇷

[@marcelkilluq9399]

@Ro Ensch Don't be a fascist, please. We're all human.

[@marcelkilluq9399]

@Ro Ensch Well, most of the modern Turks are immigrants from different places. My great-grandfather was an immigrant from Thessaloniki.

[@nuiaslou18]

@Ro Ensch Gayreek

[@greeksuperiority7424]

THE PEOPLE WHO MOVED THEY WERE GREEK ORIGINS MUSLIM AN GREEK ORIGINS CHRISTIANS...WE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT RELIGIONS...THAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF IT ALL!!

[@ai-kt3hy]

My grandfather is a Greek muslim too

[@greeksuperiority7424]

@@ai-kt3hy where does he live?

[@weplo1597]

I'm Yörük Türkmen although I may have some dna from Balkans or Slavs though who knows

[@mlala1814]

This is what happened to my family.

[@X1312XNikos]

I like Turkey we are brothers greece + turkey

[@TV-xr8vd]

ΣΚΑΣΕ!!! Δέν είμαστε

[@dariomoreno9267]

@Ro Ensch it was ottomans, not turks

[@turquoisepunch7488]

24:55 You can understand from the plane tree that there were Turks here before. Turks plant plane trees in village squares.

[@zhaw4821]

Greek do the same

[@perseusofmacedon6918]

My dad's roots are from Smyrna/izmir

[@eLeft6]

Incredible

[@nightviber2097]

I want to find my Greek houses in Samsun and in Gumushane .

[@giorikas1982]

@Random Person If you are not Greek then you are tatar and your ancestors were living in Crimea and Stalin ripped them to Yzbekistan, am i right?

[@giorikas1982]

@Random Person My gradfathers have Greek passports, they dont involved in 2nd ww like all the Greeks in Crimea. Tatars do.They actually were with Hitler, but we had the same fate. What is your nationality by the way,sorry i do not get it

[@bastetcat33]

the grandparents of my father immigrated to samsun in 1923. my father and his familly actually return to thessalloniki to visit their village in 90s. The grandparents of my father had a second cchange to see their village in greece again 60 years later. you should totally do that. It was a very emotional experience for them. I think they were 14 when they immigrated to Turkey.

[@mahsubas]

@@giorikas1982 do you know your surname's meaning ?

[@giorikas1982]

@@mahsubas Topal means lame in turkish, I know, so what?Greeks does not have turkish blood, but Turks have Greek blood. Take a read about devsirme...

[@selimyilmaz7440]

we are not a frıend we are brothers we are brothers forever . love from turkey :)

[@inouelenhatduy]

so the greek still keep the mosque , but the turk destroy the church ....... 33:26

[@somixedaidentitycrisis1622]

No the greeks demolish minaret of mosque and close it down in athens,In istanbul All of the churches are churches exeept very old byzantine ones that the ottomans changed

[@sercanozan3166]

Yeah turks probably never destroy the church but they are converted to mosque. But greeks destroy the all mosque in thessalonika and athens.

[@kostasgkaros744]

@@sercanozan3166 so it's not churches

[@sercanozan3166]

kostas gkaros kostas actually I said wrong turks and greeks destroy because you know why I know at least 200 thousand turks living in greece but turkey greeks unfortunately they are gone after 1955 todays probably five thousand greeks living especially in istanbul. I wish no one destroy the holy church or mosque I’m atheist but I can understand the whats meaning to believers.

[@nuiaslou18]

There are so many churches in istanbul you can visit them they are open for everyone.

[@iwannatheoxari3921]

Whose responsability ? Maybe 1300 to 1453 ??? what do you think ? Tell me....

[@francismuiruri9064]

How are they communicating?